Skin Care Problems

The healthy-skincare.com website discusses many skin care problems. The focus is on providing key information on these skin problems. For every problematic skin condition that is addressed, the following information is usually provided:

description of the skin problem and some general information

the symptoms of the skin condition

the causes of the skin problem

tips for preventing the skin problem for occurring or reoccurring

options for treating the problem

additional information such as pictures of the problem and links.

List below are just some of the skin problems that are discussed in the skin care website.

What is often overlooked in the world of healthy skin care is the effect that insect bites have on the skin. Insect bites or stings can cause skin swelling, skin redness, a skin rash, and possibly a skin infection. Information on a wide variety of insect stings can be found at the link above.

Rashes caused by plants, various types of food, allergic reactions, drugs, and various skin diseases are discussed at the diagnose my skin rash page at the above link.

Erythema Nodosum

Erythema nodosum or EN is an inflammation of the skin. The skin inflammation originates in the fatty layer of the skin matrix. It is characterized by the presence of painful (especially when pressed) and tender lumps or nodules that are reddish to purple red in color and sometimes bruise-like in appearance. Like bruises, when the bumps begin to disappear, the affected skin takes on a yellowish appearance. The lumps usually appear below the knees on the shins. Small numbers of bumps may be found on the thighs and forearms as well. The lumps vary in size and can be up to several inches in size, but typically are two inches or five centimetres or less. Note that flu-like symptoms such as joint pain and fever can accompany EN.

Skin care problems such as this are more likely to affect women than men and the most often age range affected is young adults. Specifically, women in the 15 to 30 years old range are the prime suffers of EN.

There are various other skin care problems closely associated with erythema nodosum. For example, this skin inflammation may appear in conjunction with fungal diseases, strep throat, inflammatory bowel disease, mononucleosis, tuberculosis, and other bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. There is also a link to the use of medications such as birth control pills and the sulfa family of drugs.

Treatment of this condition usually involves treating the other underlying conditions that may be causing it. Specific treatments for this skin inflammation problem include: oral cortisone pills, cortisone injections, potassium iodide pills, antibiotics, or the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

Relief can also be obtained temporarily by staying off your feet. This means bed rest, elevating the legs, and use of compression bandages, all of which act to reduce and not promote more inflammation of the skin and aggravation of the condition. In some cases, the skin inflammation will resolve on its own without treatment, but this may take several weeks.